A/N: The reaction to the Virgin's Ease…the curious case of Sirius Black…plots and plans all 'round…and problems with the morning Prophet! Tonks pays a visit, and the Goblins are up in arms! Mad-Eye's cure for anxiety—dueling practice!
Disclaimer: The best weapon against an enemy is another enemy.
Chapter 36
Harry and Cedric both pronounced themselves satisfied with how their first joint press interview had gone, and were pleased that the four older men were themselves pleased with their performances.
As predicted, when Harry found out the truth about the Virgin's Ease charm—namely, that it had only lasted for a few minutes and he had done the entire press conference all on his own—he was first shocked, then angry, then pouty, and then finally somewhat impressed with himself.
Cedric went through his own stages: anger, more anger, still more defensive anger and rage, then acceptance that Harry needed the little boost of believing he was charmed to do well. Finally, though, he grudgingly forgave Mad-Eye for fooling Harry like that.
"But so help me, Mad-Eye, if you trick Harry like that again, I'll hex off parts of you they don't make replacements for," he hissed at Moody later that evening, when the two of them were alone.
Moody had the good grace to look sheepish, and apologized. "I hear you, boy, I hear you…and I'm not going to say I did it for his own good, that'd be too much like Albus' reasoning…but you have to admit, it taught the boy that he didn't need any magic than just his own self to handle the press like he did."
Since Mad-Eye had a valid point, Cedric accepted the old man's explanation…but was grumpy with him for most of the rest of the evening.
Once they had a chance to decompress from the interview, both Harry and Cedric were told about the progress that had been made on Sirius' case that morning.
"Madam Bones was quite receptive to hearing us out," Eddie Spindle started off. "Although, the pensieve evidence you gave was a bit…shocking to her, Harry."
"She believed it, though, didn't she?" Harry asked anxiously. His memories of seeing Peter Pettigrew alive in the Shrieking Shack, and then in the graveyard during the resurrection of Voldemort was their best evidence of Sirius' innocence.
"She seemed to," Spindle answered. "But, she told us she would have to look into the matter further before dropping the warrants currently out on Lord Black."
"So…did she say when she'd have an answer?" Cedric asked.
"Not as such," Polly Gallsworthy answered him. "However, I know Millie, and she won't just let this lie around. I really expect to hear from her within the week, and I expect that she'll decide in our favor."
"And if she doesn't?" Harry asked quietly.
"Then, Harry, we turn up the heat on Dumbledore and Fudge," Gallsworthy said firmly. "I might even mention to Lucius Malfoy about what a horrible precedence it sets for the Lord of a family as prominent as the Blacks to be sent to Azkaban without even the pretense of a trial." He grinned across the table at a shocked Harry. "Look at it this way, Harry…if it can happen to Sirius Black, it can happen to anybody, even a Malfoy. No, that's the kind of thing that none of the pure bloods want to start happening. And, if Lord Potter were to put that in a letter to the Prophet…well, so much the better for us."
Harry shook his head. "It's just weird, that's all…I know that Malfoy Sr. is a Death Eater, but to have him actually working with us against Dumbles and Fudgy…" he trailed off, having a hard time wrapping his brain around the concept.
"I know, Harry, I know," Polly soothed. "But, strange as it may seem, Malfoy is our natural ally on this one. Of course, with friends like him you always want to watch your back…."
"Lest it sprout a knife," Moody put in, to nods all around.
"Agreed, Alistor," Gallsworthy continued. "But as long as we don't show him our backs, metaphorically or actually speaking, we should take whatever help he can give us to help clear Sirius' name."
"Here's something else. What if we could split Malfoy away from Voldemort? If not bring him to our side, then at least make him neutral?" Cedric wondered.
Reactions around the table to this comment ranged from shock to intense interest. Eddie Spindle and Polly Gallsworthy both had looks of speculation on their faces, while Remus Lupin just looked queasy at the thought. Of course, the strongest reaction came from Mad-Eye Moody.
"Hah! That'll be the day, lad!" he barked. "What were you planning on doing…using Imperio on Lucius to make him foreswear his 'Dark Lord'?
"No, I think Cedric may have a point," Harry said carefully. Of course, none of the older men knew about Draco Malfoy's future change of heart, and he didn't really want to tell them. "Just think about it for a moment. Malfoy's all about being on the winning side, and he thinks that Voldemort's going to win. But…he's had all these years of not being under the Dark Moron's thumb, and now it's back to 'business as usual'. I can't imagine that it's easy to work for Tom, unless you really are partial to the Cruciatus curse," he said wryly. "If we can show Malfoy that we're getting the upper hand, not just following Dumbles blindly…and Tom cooperates by being his usual cheerful, fun self…I'm not saying it will happen, mind you, only that it might." Having finished, Harry just shrugged, waiting to hear what everyone else might think.
"Hurrmph! Never happen, lad, never happen," was Mad-Eye's opinion.
"I just don't know, Harry…" Remus began, then trailed off, shaking his head.
"It won't be easy," Eddie Spindle said carefully.
"Harry, I think you might just be on to something," Polly Gallsworthy said softly. "It won't be easy, or cheap, or happen overnight…but it's something we should definitely look into."
"I think you're absolutely right about one thing, Harry," Eddie said. "It won't happen until and unless we can show that we…that you…are getting the upper hand. Malfoy has no fear of Dumbledore, and every reason to fear what abandoning the Dark Lord might cost him."
"Getting Black's name cleared will be a good first step," Polly said. "Think about the message that it sends: Potter wanted justice done, and it was done. An innocent man exonerated, the Black vaults unfrozen, and two old, powerful families now with Heads that are independent of Dumbledore and the Dark Lord. That could be the core around which a group of independent-minded Lords in the Wizengamot might gather."
"Not to mention the public at large," Eddie spoke up excitedly. "If the Dark Lord goes back to the usual pattern of random killings, it will do several things. The Ministry will look incompetent, Dumbledore will be seen as ineffectual in his role of Chief Warlock, and people will be looking for answers. If the Boy-Who-Lived just happens to be there with some of those answers…." Spindle trailed off suggestively.
"Then more and more people will be willing to follow Harry's lead," Gallsworthy finished. Looking directly at Harry, he spoke gently. "Harry, I know you don't like the limelight, but let's face the cold, hard facts. You are the Boy-Who-Lived, and there is a prophecy about you and the Dark Lord. Until Voldemort is destroyed once and for all, you'll never have anything approaching the normal life you want. I'm sorry, Harry, really I am…but it's the truth."
"I know, Polly, and I appreciate you at least realizing how I feel about it," Harry answered. "I guess the sooner I just accept that I'm not normal, the better."
"I'm glad you're not normal," Cedric said firmly, taking Harry's hand. "I don't want a 'normal' boyfriend, you git," he said. "I want Harry Potter. And, having had just a taste of life with Harry Potter, I don't think I could stand anyone else…they'd be just too boring to contemplate." Reaching out, he ruffled Harry's hair affectionately.
"Hey, gerroff, prat!" Harry protested half-heartedly. Inside, he felt a warm glow begin to fill him.
"All right, you two," Spindle broke in. "This is a law firm, not a bawdy house…you two put the lid on," he grinned.
"Be doing the nasty on our conference table before we know it," Gallsworthy grumped, fooling absolutely no one. "At any rate, I think we're finished for the day, so it's time for all of you," he said, rising, "to go away and let Eddie and me get on with our jobs."
And with that, there was a mass tromping outside for the Apparition back to Number 12, Grimmauld Place.
***
The next morning found the family back around the table, reading the muggle papers while Harry cooked enough breakfast for a small army.
With the third round of pancakes, Remus and Cedric banded together to call a halt to Harry's culinary agitation.
"Harry, for the love of Merlin, please come sit down," Cedric cajoled.
"Harry, we know you're anxious about the morning Prophet, but please stop cooking," Remus added.
Sirius, on the other hand, was more supportive. "Harry, oh Best Godson Ever, you just keep on doing what makes you feel better. And, can I get extra blueberries in my next stack?" he asked.
Harry just laughed and threw another handful of blueberries into the batter he was mixing. "Of course, oh Best Godfather Ever…but do you think the other two prats would like some more pancakes, too?"
Cedric just groaned while Remus winced. "Harry, love, you have got to stop feeding us like this…we'll all be too fat to move if you don't."
"Harry, we all don't have your metabolism," Remus said, then belched loudly, making Harry smirk and Sirius laugh.
Just then Mad-Eye came in and sat down at his usual place. "Morning, all. So, Harry, what's for breakfast?" he asked.
When Remus and Cedric groaned and Sirius laughed, Moody looked up, confused. "What? Did I say something funny?" he growled.
Laughing, Harry put a plate in front of the old Auror. "No, Mad-Eye, they're just being silly, as usual. There's sausages and scrambled eggs there on the table…now, what say I start you off with three pancakes? I hope you like blueberry," he said, turning back to the stove.
"Alistor, have you seen the Prophet this morning?" Lupin asked, giving in to the inevitable. If Harry wanted to deal with his anxiety by cooking, well, there were worse things.
Moody shook his head. "No, I haven't. That's odd, isn't it? Usually it's out by now," he said, tucking into his eggs and sausage with gusto.
Everyone agreed that it was rather odd, but not outstandingly so. It was not until some time later, when everyone had finished breakfast (and another two day's worth of food had been put under stasis charms for use the next morning) that it became clear that something was indeed up with the morning Prophet.
"Well, no help for it. You lot wait here, I'll just pop over to Diagon Alley and pick us up a copy or two," Moody had said, when a loud pounding came from the front door.
Instantly everyone was on alert. No one had been expected, and since only members of the Order were privy to the secret of the Fidelius, then it could only be an Order member. Or, everyone thought but no one said out loud, the Death Eaters or the Ministry had managed to get the secret out of an Order member…in which case, they were all in deep, deep trouble.
"Alright, everyone, no need to panic," Mad-Eye began barking orders. "Harry, Cedric, go to the second floor…if this is trouble that the three of us can't handle," he caught Remus and Sirius up with his natural eye, "then you two get yourselves into that RV in the attic and take off! No arguments!" he thundered just as Harry and Cedric both started to argue. "Once you're away, try to get in contact with your parents, Cedric. Have them send reinforcements if it's Death Eaters. Now, go!" Moody shoo'd the boys up the stairs and he, Remus and Sirius moved to the front entrance.
Harry and Cedric took up their positions on the second floor as far back from the stairs as they possibly could yet still hear what was going on in the entrance way. No sooner had they gotten into position when they heard Remus open the door, followed by a loud crashing sound. Both boys froze in place, until they heard Sirius laughing from down below.
"Come in, Tonks, do come in…no, Remus, I'm not going to help you up, get the lady who knocked you down to do it! Boys, it's just Tonks!" he called up the stairs.
Grinning at each other, the boys tromped downstairs to find Tonks and Lupin brushing themselves off in the foyer while Sirius and Moody smirked at them.
"Wotcher, Harry, Cedric!" Tonks called out. Her hair was signal-flare orange this morning, and looked almost as messy as Harry's had before it grew out.
"Hey, Tonks," Harry called back. "What brings you here this morning?"
"You lot, that's what," Tonks grinned. "I've just brought you copies of the Prophet, hot off the presses!"
"We were beginning to wonder about the paper," Remus said, taking one of the papers Tonks held out.
"Yeah, well, it's a right proper madhouse at the Prophet's offices this morning," Tonks explained. "The Aurors were called out a while ago, which is why I was able to nick these copies for you lot."
"What's going on at the Prophet's offices?" Moody asked, taking another paper.
Tonks just grinned. "These two here, that's what's going on," she pointed with her chin at Cedric and Harry. "Apparently these two are the hottest couple since Charles and Diana, and everybody wants to read about the interview they gave yesterday. Since Witch Weekly won't be out for another two days, and the Crystal Ball's over a week away, the Prophet's the only source to satisfy the mob." Having finished straightening her clothes, she straightened. "So…how about one of you gents buy a girl a cuppa, eh?"
Lupin gallantly extended his arm for the young metamorphagus. "I'd be glad to stand you to a cup, Miss Tonks. If you'll come with me…." He said, leading her into the kitchen.
Once everyone was established in the kitchen with a fortifying cup of tea, Tonks began to explain what had happened that morning at the offices of the Daily Prophet.
"Apparently, word about your press interview yesterday got out in more places than just London," she said. "So, right before the morning news owls were to go out, a contingent of goblins from Gringotts showed up and demanded to be allowed to purchase the entire print run. Apparently, they were operating on a request from their Paris branch…so the entire regular printing of the Prophet is now being distributed all across Europe. Then, just when the Prophet was gearing up for another run, people started showing up demanding their regular morning paper." Tonks took a sip and thought for a moment. "Things were well under control…the goblins brought armed guards, and you know that nobody with any sense argues with an armed goblin…until a runner from Gringotts came with word that the Rome branch wanted at least half of the second printing run. When word of that got out, the crowd started getting ugly, and the Prophet's management yelled for auror support. That's how I got involved."
"So, what's happening now?" Moody asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
Tonks shrugged. "Not a lot, actually. Kingsley Shacklebolt was leading the auror squads…."
"Thank Merlin for small favors," Mad-Eye grumbled.
"Agreed," Tonks nodded. "Imagine if that fool Dawlish had been leading them! We'd be kicking off another Goblin rebellion right now. At any rate, Kingsley managed to negotiate a deal whereby the Rome branch will get theirs immediately after the regular paper owls and street copies go out, but before any are shipped to the Americas or Canada."
"America? Canada?" Harry asked weakly, leaning on Cedric's shoulder for support.
"Oh, didn't I mention them? Apparently the Goblins are figuring on a huge demand from North America, and want to be prepared to offer today's Prophet to their customers 'for only a modest surcharge'." The young auror put down her tea cup and leaned back. "Anyway, Shacklebolt's going to be stuck there all day long, trying to keep a riot or a Goblin-led massacre from breaking out; the Prophet's going to be running their presses all day, both Witch Weekly and the Crystal Ball are rushing special issues out for this evening, and the public is clamoring for every word they can get about the Boy-Who-Lived and his new boyfriend." Tonks leaned back in her chair and glared at Harry and Cedric. "And just when were you two planning on telling Auntie Tonks about your little secret?"
Harry was blushing to the tips of his ears and Cedric was hiding his eyes behind one hand while his other hand massaged Harry's neck. Since Cedric was busy, Harry decided that he'd better be the one answering.
"Uh…today?" He smiled at Tonks in (what he hoped was) a disarming way.
"Huh," was all that Tonks said, as she picked up her tea cup again.
"So, Tonks…what's the public's general reaction so far?" Sirius asked carefully.
Tonks paused a moment, thinking, before she answered. "I'd say very positive, thus far. At least, most of the people that were clamoring for their papers at the Prophet this morning were pro-Harry. Of course," she went on, "there was a small group of people trying to picket the Prophet for printing such obvious lies about the 'Savior of the Wizarding World', but they seemed to be obviously just a bit…touched, if you know what I mean." She grinned wryly, twirling her finger around her temple for emphasis.
"About what Gallsworthy and Spindle told us to expect, then," Remus mused, to nods all around. At Tonk's blank look, he explained. "Harry and Cedric have retained Edward Spindle and A. P. Gallsworthy to represent them, and they've been giving the boys advice on how to manage their press coverage. They set up the interview yesterday, and gave us all a briefing into what to expect today."
"They never said that we'd cause the Prophet to be mobbed," Cedric said. His tone of voice was half-irritated, half-amused. "Are people really that vapid, to get all worked up about the two of us?"
At his question, everyone else in the room just laughed.
"Of course they are, lad," Mad-Eye explained. "Most of them lead such boring lives that anything like this…anything at all…can work them into a frenzy. Of course," he went on, "anything really serious, they'd just as soon ignore, but a bit of fluff like you two—no offense, boys, you know what I mean—gets their knickers all a'twist."
"So…what do we do about it?" Cedric asked, moving his arm around Harry protectively.
"For now, nothing…at least until Gallsworthy or Spindle tells you to, I'd imagine," Sirius said. "You've got some of the best legal talent in England behind you, boys…I suggest that you do what they say. Stay inside for the next few days, and let them handle it."
Harry and Cedric nodded at what was undeniably good advice. They were both just wondering what they were going to do for the rest of the day when that little problem solved itself.
"Well, then, I'd say that we've got a golden opportunity here! Get up, you two louts! Training time!" Mad-Eye Moody thundered, getting to his feet and stomping away. "Well, come on, then…you can be sure the Dark Lord's not taking a holiday, just because you two got your pretty little faces in the paper!" Turning, he stamped from the room, muttering.
Harry couldn't help himself. Watching Mad-Eye go, he turned to his boyfriend and grinned. "Well, so much for a morning snog, Ced."
"I know, love…well, we'd best be going, then," he said to the others around the table as he rose. Pulling Harry after him, Cedric went to follow Moody to the attic training room. "Feel free to join us in the torture chamber," he laughed.
When they were gone, Tonks turned to Remus and Sirius.
"Are they always like that? Cedric and Harry, I mean," she asked.
"Like what?" Sirius asked, hiding his smile behind his cup.
"Like…that," Tonks waved her hand. "Like…they're mad for each other, or something."
"Tonks, you don't know the half of it," Remus said, while Sirius just shook his head in agreement.
***
When Mad-Eye finally let the boys break for lunch, he had worn them to such a frazzle that they were too tired to worry about anything as inconsequential as their press coverage. Moody had decided that the best thing to take their minds off their troubles was a series of mock duels: first, either Harry or Cedric against the other, then against him.
"But Moody," Harry had simpered, using the puppy-dog eyes, "you're such a better duelist than either of us…why can't it be the two of us against just you?"
"Sod that, Potter, I've seen you duel…you and Diggory both are too sneaky by half for an old man like me to take on two on one," Moody had just laughed off Harry's suggestion and tossed a bright yellow hex at Harry
"Gee, thanks Mad-Eye…I think," Cedric had remarked dryly, batting aside the hex that Harry had deflected his way.
"Tag, Cedric! You're it!" Harry had laughed, tossing the same bright blue charm from both of his hands simultaneously at Mad-Eye and Diggory. He had been working with his bracelets to perfect just such a trick, to good effect. Of course, calling out Cedric's name hadn't really distracted Mad-Eye enough to matter, and quickly thereafter their dueling practice had devolved into a free-for-all. Given the power and skill levels involved, it was probably a good thing that multiple layers of shielding charms had been put all around the attic's training area. As it was, when Mad-Eye finally called a halt, it took all three of them several minutes to repair all of the equipment and furniture they had destroyed.
That afternoon, the boys split their time between charms research with Remus in the library and an impromptu potions lesion with Sirius in the basement potions room. Finally, after a quick take-away supper that Remus had run out for, the boys went off to bed.
When they were gone upstairs, Mad-Eye had a brief conference with Remus and Lupin.
"I tell you, those two could go on the dueling circuit tomorrow," he confided softly. "Either of them alone is a menace…but when they work together, I suspect it'd be all that the Dark Lord or Dumbledore could do to handle them."
"That's good to know, Moody," Sirius replied with no small amount of satisfaction.
"How is Harry handling the change in his magic core, Alistor?" Remus wanted to know.
"I can tell that he's still holding back, which is good for me and Cedric when we're dueling," Moody answered. "But, I think that he's starting to stretch himself just a bit, here and there…just to see what he can do, without hurting himself, that is," the old auror finished.
"He's not going to hurt himself, is he?" Sirius asked, concerned.
"No, no, he's not being stupid or anything…he's a good lad, best student I've ever had," Moody answered while Sirius and Remus nodded. High praise, indeed. "And Diggory, while he doesn't have the power young Potter does, he's got fine control in spades. He'll make a fine Charms master some day…assuming Albus doesn't run the both of them off from that school of his."
"We know, Alistor, we know," Remus sighed. "But you see our problem…Dumbledore won't let either of us close to the school during the regular academic year, so in a lot of ways the boys will be on there own."
"Mmm," was Moody's only answer, as all three of them just sat for a while, each lost in his own thoughts.
A/N: First review Shout Out! goes to Darshu, with writeheart being the first to ID the disclaimer quote as George S. Patton. Several people keep promising pictures, which I understand take time…but, you'll note, we still have NO pictures (and hopefully, they'll post them on their own sites so that I can just link to them, hint hint). Once again, I'm sorry that I can't name all of you who reviewed, but I do read (and cherish) each and every one of them.
Several people have asked about when this fic will end…soon, I hope! This fic will wrap up on storyline date September 1st, on Platform 9 ¾. Yes, I'm planning on carrying on with the storyline—it deserves to be finished. It may take a while, as RL is getting…interesting. Apparently I'm doing something right, as I've been approached about another screenplay, which is fine…but severely cuts into my fanfic writing time. *sigh* More coffee, I suppose…. Anyway, I've got a couple of twists that I've yet to reveal for this story, even if it won't end with a massive battle scene (I don't think). So, bear with me if the updates aren't as regular as they have been—I'm trying.
Next Chapter: Things get interesting, with Madam Bones, Sirius Black and three drops of Veritiserum. This results in yet another press conference, involving the entire family. Then, Harry and Cedric receive a letter and instructions from Draco, Earl Malfoy!